Improvement in leggings



' F. L. OAKLEY. H

LEGGINGS. No. 181,469. Patented Aug. 22,1876.

Utwzsses.

N. PETERs. PHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FARNAM L. OAKLEY, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LEGGINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,469, dated August 22, 1876; application filed May 2, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FARNAM L. OAKLEY, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and'State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Leggings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which represents a side view of my legging.

This invention consists in a legging the border, the contracted portion, and the leg of which are all knitted without any reduction in the yarn throughout the operation of knitting, while in the contracted portion the number of stitches is reduced one-third, as compared with the number of stitches in the border and in the leg, and by these means sufficient elasticity is imparted to the contracted portion to prevent the same from stretching by frequent use, and toenable the same to close tight upon the leg without the aid of india-rnbber or other elastic material.

In the drawing, the letter A designates my legging, which is composed of the border B, the contracted portion (J, and the leg D, all made of one continuous piece of knitted work.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the border consists of a series of stitches, a, which are arranged in groups 1 2 3, 850.,

each group consisting of three stitches. The.

contracted portion 0 consists of an equal number of groups of stitches, 1 2 3, 8220.; but each group in the contracted portion contains only two stitches. The number of groups of stitches l 2 3, &c., in the leg D is also equal to the number of groups in the contracted portion 0.

and in the border B; but each group in the leg contains three stitches, the same as in the border.

in each circular row of the contracted portion is reduced'one-third, as compared to the circular rows of stitches in the border and in the leg, and by these means the elasticity of-the contracted portion 0, or its capability to expand and recede to its original shape, is increased to such an extent that the same, when drawn over the knee, will close up tight upon the leg without the use of elastic bands or straps, and that it can be used for a long time without losing its elasticity.

A similar contracted portion may also be formed on the ankle portion of my legging, so that the same will close up tight in the anklejoint.

What 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv The legging herein described, having the ribbed border B and leg I), each made of groups of stitches 1 2 3, &c., and 1 2 3, 850., each group containing three stitches, said legging having the ribbed contracted portion 0 made of groups of stitches 1 2 3, &c., each made of two stitches, without reducing the quantity of yarn used for each circular row of v stitches through the entire article, as shown and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of April, 1876.

FARNAM L. OAKLEY. 1,. s.]

Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

